“To Bring Out The Prisoners
From The Prison”
SIH’s Think On
These Things: Eph 4:7-10
Eph
4:7-10 (KJV) 7) But unto every one
of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8) Wherefore he
saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts
unto men. 9) (Now that he ascended, what is it but
that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10)
He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that
he might fill all things.)
Our Lord is the
originator of all the freedoms that we possess (John 8:36). He is active in deliverance from governmental
oppression and tyranny as is illustrated by the deliverance of Israel from
Egyptian enslavement (Exo 3:18). One of the greatest blessings that Americans
possess is the blessing of liberty from governmental domination. It is based upon these
liberties that we can worship our Lord freely, serve Him publically, and
proclaim His truth to any that will hear.
Even though the blessing
of independence from governmental oppression is great, there is a far greater
type of freedom that the Lord has granted to us. This is freedom from spiritual blindness and
enslavement which is granted by the grace and intervention of God. It is brought to fallen man through the
ministry of His people (Isa 42:5-8). It is through our ministry that those who are
in sin’s grip can find release and eternal freedom (2 Tim 2:24-26). It is through the work of Christ on the cross that
we are no longer the captives of Satan and sin but are now placed under the authority
of Christ…
“But
unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of
Christ.”
Every gift that we
receive from God, including our freedom from governmental oppression and sin’s
enslavement flows through Christ, God’s ultimate gift to mankind.
“Wherefore
he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts
unto men.”
When Christ entered the
presence of God (during the time period that His body was in the tomb three
days and three nights) He intervened on behalf of those for whom He died. Based upon His newly shed blood, He interceded
for us, removing us from sin’s bondage and placing us under His divine authority
as Lord of our lives (led captivity
captive). He also opened up the
gateway for many other blessings of salvation to flow to us (gave gifts unto men).
“(Now
that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower
parts of the earth?”
For Christ’s spirit to
ascended to be with God, His physical body must first die on the cross and be
buried in the tomb (he also descended
first into the lower parts of the earth).
“He
that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he
might fill all things.)”
Lest we think that the
Jesus that was crucified was not the Messiah and our Savior, we need to
remember that this same Lord died, then ascended to the Father immediately following
His death. It is at this time, that we
are given undeniable proof He is the true Messiah… His heavenly Father accepted
Him and He finalized His completed work that was done on our behalf.
Let us all thank our
Lord for the national freedoms that we continue to enjoy. But beyond that, let us thank Him for His
saving work on the cross that supplied to us eternal spiritual freedom.
May the
Lord bless us as we “Think On These Things”.
SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org
SIH
Text Blog: http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/all-about-salvation/
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Email: settledinheaven@gmail.com
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